President Biden has made the decision to redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for another 18 months, according to The Haitian Times [fea46822]. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that TPS for Haiti has been extended from August 4, 2024, to February 3, 2026 [59d39537]. This extension allows for approximately 300,000 Haitians already in the United States to benefit from the decision, and an estimated 309,000 additional Haitians to file applications for TPS [59d39537]. The redesignation and extension of TPS for Haiti comes as the country continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian crisis, including violence, food insecurity, and limited access to essential services [fea46822]. Armed gangs control significant portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince [fea46822]. Haiti has been experiencing a surge in gang violence, and advocacy groups have been campaigning for updated protections [59d39537]. The turmoil in Haiti has sparked renewed demands for reparations from Western nations [59d39537]. Haiti recently formed a transitional ruling council and swore in Garry Conille as interim prime minister [59d39537]. Haitian TPS recipients contribute $4.4 billion to the American economy annually [fea46822]. Immigrants' rights advocate Guerline Jozef welcomed the Biden administration's move but called for comprehensive immigration reform to create a pathway to permanent protection for all TPS recipients [59d39537].
The Department of Homeland Security has also extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemeni citizens in the United States for another 18 months, according to East New York [119a04b6]. This extension allows Yemeni TPS holders to stay in the U.S. with work authorization until February 2026 [119a04b6]. Immigration advocates are calling for a permanent immigration solution for TPS holders and believe that the U.S. government should do more to support Yemeni citizens, including opening the airport and providing reparations for the destruction caused by the war in Yemen [119a04b6]. Currently, individuals from 16 countries qualify for TPS, including Sudan, Venezuela, and Ukraine [119a04b6]. TPS holders contribute to the economy and support their community abroad, and TPS can be used as a tool to create a benevolent image of the U.S. abroad [119a04b6].
The extension of TPS for Yemeni citizens comes as advocates call for an overhaul of the long-standing TPS program [119a04b6]. They argue that TPS should not be a temporary fix but rather a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship [119a04b6]. Advocates are pushing for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs of TPS recipients and creates a more stable and permanent solution for individuals who have been living in the United States for an extended period of time [119a04b6].